Garment hanger



J. M. OLDHAM -GARMENT HANGER Dec. 31, 1935.

Filed July 2s, 1954 2 sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEYS J. M. OLDHAM GARMENT HANGER Dec. 31, 1935.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 28, 1934 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 31, 1935 UNITED STATES GABMENT HANGER John M. Oldham, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Leonard A. Young, Detroit, Mich.

Application Julygzs, 1934, senin No. 131,350 27 claims. 4(ci. 22a-ss) Themain objects of this invention are: First, to provide a garment hanger which is simple and economical in its `parts and inexpensive to manufacture, the arrangement being such that the device readily lends itself to large scale production.

Second, to provide a garment hanger having wire arms provided with means coacting with paper covers thereon to prevent rotation of the latter, whereby they are held in their most effective position for supporting the garment, such as a coat.

Third, to provide a garment hanger consisting of a wire yoke and a paper strut or cross bar of improved construction, the cross bar being adapted to be readily connected with or detached from the yoke so that the yoke may be used with or without the strut.

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is dened and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a garment hanger embodying the features of my invention with the strut and the yoke covers' in assembled relation.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan View of the hanger, a portion of one arm cover being broken away and shown in section on a line correspondingfto' line 2-2 of Fig. 4.

Iig'.A 3 is 'an enlarged fragmentary view partially infront elevation and partially in section showing the corner construction in detail.

lFig.,` 41 Ais an enlarged transverse section taken on a line corresponding to line 4-j4 of Fig. 2.

A5 is a transverse section of the strut on une 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in front elevation of the hook shank and yoke connection, the parts being shown in section at the joint.

Fig. .7- is a. front elevational view of the suspension hook and yoke assembly.

- Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view in front elevation of a. modication, the inturned finger atthe outer end of the yoke arm being straight.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of another modication. f ya Fig. 10 is an enla ed transverse section taken on aline corresponding to line lil-I of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective yiew of the strut of the-modification.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of another form of strut.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view partially in front elevation and partially in section of a corner construction embodying the use of the `strut shown in Fig. l2.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of another modification of the strut.

Fig. l is a fragmentary view partially in section and partially in elevation of a modification of the arm cover'.

At the present time, enormous quantities of wire garment hangers of conventional design are being manufactured and sold. With automatic machines making wire garment hangers by the hundreds of thousands, the cost thereof quite closely approaches the cost of the wire. It follows that the reduction in the amount of wire required for each hanger, however slight, will result in a corresponding saving in the cost of manufacture. I aim to make a garment hanger which uses as little wire as possible, but which has suiiicient wire to produce the desired results.

Compared to wire, paper is relatively inexpensive, but it lacks sufficient strength except in certain directions, even when suitably formed. Another purpose of my invention is therefore to use paper instead of wire in that portion of the garment hanger where its natural properties and qualities are useful.'

In the past, it has been customary for the cleaner to apply paper covers or sleeves onthe arms and cross bar of wire garment hangers in certain cases, in order to prevent the metal from coming in contact with the garment. These covers onthe arms are formed of relatively light cardboard stock folded over the yokev and/or struts so that the fold constitutes the supporting surface. A feature of my invention is the provision of means on Athe arms of a hanger yoke for preventing paper covers thereon in the form of relatively stiff flattened tubes from rotating, and so that the covers are held in their most desirable and benecial position for presenting a supporting surface of substantial width for supporting the garment. g

In some cases, in conventional wire garment hangers, the cleaner does not use the cross bar or strut at all, such as where dresses alone or overcoats are to be delivered. In such cases, the

cross bar represents a. total loss to the cleaner which, although small in each hanger, assumes large proportions where a great number of hangwhich is available for use if desired by the cleaner, but which can be left off and is not necessary when the yoke alone is used. While any kind of detachable strut is suitable for my purpose, I prefer to use one formed of paper which is suitably conformed for the purpose intended and for coaction with my improved wire yoke.

Referring now to drawings, I is a suspension hook formed of a single piece of wire and having astraight vertical shank 2. The yoke 3 is also separately formed of one piece of wire, the apex 4 of the yoke being butt welded to the lower end of the shank 2 of the suspension hook.V The ydownwardly and outwardly diverging arms 5, 5 of the yoke are provided with medial lateral offsets 6 and terminate in inturned hooks or ngers 1, the inner ends of which are turned up -to provide terminal lugs 8.

By butt welding the suspension hook to the yoke, I save a very substantial amount of stock g over `the conventional hook form wherein the ends of the wire are twisted at the shank of the suspension hook. is performed while the forming operations are taking place on the yoke, the stock being fed to welding position by means of friction feed rolls and screw tightening rolls.

On the arms of the yoke are arranged paper covers 9 in the form of at stiff tubes held against rotation by the offsets 6 and in place by the shank 2 and end lingers 1. The arm covers are .preferably formed of relatively-stir! paper stock,

such as thin cardboard, in longitudinal strips which are folded and glued together at I 0. The oisets in the arms not only serve to support the covers so that they will not twist and a broad surface is presented upwardly, but they alsov act when the covers are omitted to provide stops with which the shoulder straps of ladies garments may be engaged to prevent slipping.

The paper strut II which I prefer to use is in the form of a attened tube with its edge portions I2, I2 glued together to form a vertical stiilening` ange I3 which extends longitudinally of the strut in depending relation to the tube. Before forming the tube, the inside of the paper strip or cardboard is preferably coated with quick hardening glue or water glass Il or the like to add stiffness and also to provide the adhesive for securing the edges of the strip together to form the tube.

The ends of the tube are adapted to receive the inturned ngers 1 and their terminal lugs 8 and engage the angles I5 formed by the fingers with the arms 5. This paper strut serves all the purposes of a conventional paper covered wire strut o r cross piece of a conventional wire hanger with several advantages as will appear from the description. My structure not only entirely saves the cost o1' a strut when not used, but it also saves the difference between the cost of a conventional wire strut plus a paper cover thereforand the cost of my improved paper strut.

I contemplate shipping the paper struts in a carton separate from the wire yoke and hook assembly so that the cleaner may apply the struts to the yyokes or not as desired or required. Further, the sleeves or arm covers are shipped separately for application by the cleaner to the arms of the yoke when necessary. y

While the struts are stiif enough to effectively support the garment, they are preferably made so that repeated use of the hanger is prevented.

For sanitary reasons, it is undesirable for cleaners to use garment hangers more than once partinularly as they are then passed from one illustrate-d by Fig. 8 of the drawings.

Further, the welding operation customer to another. However, the paper strut is very strong andfully effective for the purpose intended when engaged with the arms of the yoke as described above.

If desired, the arms of the yoke may be col- 5- lapsed toward each other when formed, so that when the strut is inserted it will be necessary to spring the arms outwardly. In this case, the upturned prongs or lugs on the inturnedfhooks or the arms are not necessary and are omitted, as

'I'he upturned prongs or lugs have the advantage of more securely engaging the tubular strut, and also of permitting the use of struts having end holes adapted to receive the upturned prongs, as 15 shown by Figs. 12, 13 and 14 of the drawings.

Referring to Figs. l2 and 13, the strut IB comprises-a fiat strip of wood having notches I1, I1, and holes I 8 in its ends for receiving the upturned lugs or prongs 8 at the inner ends of 20 the inturned hooks. or ngers 1.

In Fig. 14, the strut I9 is of wood of round section having holes 20, 20 spaced from its ends for receiving the upturned prongs 8. Compared to wire, the separately formed struts of wood or 25 paperv are relatively inexpensive, and may be entirelyomitted from the hanger when not needed.

' This results in a considerable saving not only to nevertheless, owing to the coaction of the lugs with the side walls of the tube, a somewhat better 4u construction is provided by Athe tube 2I than theA tubeII. Further, in tube 2I the internal stiifening cement or glue may be omitted, owing to the inherent stiffness of the flat section of tube 2l. 43

Fig. 15 illustrates a modification of the arm coveror sleeve, the sleeve 23 of the modication consisting o f a folded strip of cardboard or stiff paper having its edge portions secured together by the connecting tape, 24 having glue 25. on 5o the inner surface. In Fig. 15, the parts are shown only partially assembled, the sleeve being shipped in this condition so that it can be readily applied to the arms 5 of the yoke.

From the above description of my invention, it 53 will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I provide an limproved garment hanger which is not only 'simple and economical in its parts, but which is extremely inexpensive to manufacture. Thus, the invention -prots both the manufac- 60 turer and the cleaner. A very desirable feature of my invention is the detachable strut which may be used or omitted as desired. Another very desirable andv equally important feature of the invention is my improved paper strut which is not only considerably less expensive than a wire strut, but which constitutes a non-metallic shield for contact with the garment hung thereon.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in embodiments which I have found very provements as maybe desired.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new 'and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Av garment hanger comprising a wire yoke i a paper strut in the form of a flattened tube` with the edges secured together to provide a depending longitudinal stiening flange, the ends of the tube receiving the.terminal lugs oi' the inturned fingers and engaging the angles formed by the ilngers with the arms.

2. A garment hanger comprising a yoke having downwardly diverging arms provided with inturned lingers, the inner ends of which are turned up to provide terminal lugs, andV a paper strut in the form oi a flattened. tube, the ends of the tube receiving the terminal lugs of the inturned ngers and engaging the angles formed by the fingers with the arms.

3. A garment hanger comprising a wire yoke having downwardly diverging arms, provided with medial lateral offsets terminating in inturned iingers, the inner ends of which are turned up to provide terminal lugs, paper covers on said arms in the formof ilat stiiI tubes held against rotaformed by the iingers with the arms.

4. A garment hanger comprising a wire yoke having downwardly diverging arms terminating in inturned ngers, the inner ends of which are turned up to provide terminal lugs, and a paper strut in the form of a flattened tube with the edges secured together to provide a depending longitudinal stiffening ange, the ends of the tube receiving the terminal lugs ofthe inturned iingers and engaging the angles formed by the fingers with the arms.

5.A garment hanger comprising a wire yoke having downwardly diverging arms provided with inturned ngers, and a paper strut in the form of a flattened tube with the edges secured together to provide a depending longitudinal stiffening ange, the ends of the tube receiving the inturned ngers and engaging the angles formed by the fingers with the arms.

6. A garment hanger comprising a wire yoke having downwardly diverging arms terminating in inturned fingers, the inner ends of which are turned up to provide terminal lugs, and a strut receiving the terminal lugs of the inturned iingers and engaging the angles formed by the iingers with the arms.

'7. A garment hanger comprising a wire hook having a shank, a wire yoke butt welded at its apex to the lower end of said shank and having downwardly diverging arms, provided with medial lateral offsets, and terminating in inturned ngers, the inner ends of which are turned up to provide terminal lugs,vfiber covers on said arms in the form of at sti tubes held against rotation by said offsets and in place by said shank and ngers, and a fiber strut receiving the terminal lugs of the inturned -fingers and engaging the angles formed by the ilngers with the arms.

8. A garment hanger comprising a wire hook having a shank, a wire yoke butt welded at its apen to the lower end of said shank and having downwardly diverging arms, provided with medial lateral oiisets, and inturned fingers, the inner ends of which are turnedmpto provide terminal lugs, ilber covers on said arms in the form oi ilat stili tubes held against rotation by said oisets and in place lby said shank and ngers, and a fiber strut receiving the terminal lugs oi the inturned ngers.

9. A garment hanger comprising a wire hook having a shank, a wire arms terminating in in turned ilngers, the inner ends of which are turned up to provide terminal lugs,l and a fiber' strut receiving the inturned ilngers.

l5 10. A garment hanger comprising a yoke having downwardly diverging arms provided with medial lateral osets and inturned iingers, and covers on said arms in the,y form otnat stil! tubes vheld againstrotation by said oilsets and in place 204 sets and terminating in inturned iingers, and

paper covers on said arms-in the form of at stm tubes held against rotation by said; offsets and in place by said shank and fingers.

12. A garment hanger comprising a yoke having outwardly and downwardly diverging arms 3o provided with inturned fingers, the ends of which are provided with terminal lugs, and a strut in the form oi'a at tube, the ends of thetube receiving said iingers and the terminal lugs coacting with the side walls of the tube to prevent rotation thereof relative to the ngers. p

13. A garment hanger comprising a wire yoke having outwardly and downwardly diverging :arms terminating in inturned iingers, the ends of which are turned up to provide terminal lugs, and a 4o paper strut in the form of a flat tube with'the edges secured together to provide a longitudinal dependingV stiiening iiange, the ends of the tube receiving said fingers and the terminal lugs corotaton thereof relative to the fingers.

14. vA garment hanger comprising a' wire'yoke having outwardly and downwardly diverging arms terminating in inturned fingers, the ends of which actingwith the side walls of the tube to prevent are turned up to provide terminal lugs, and a paper v strut in the form of a flat tube, the ends of the tube receiving said ngers and the terminal lugs coacting with the side walls of the tube to prevent rotation thereof relative to the iingers.

15. A garment hanger comprising a wire yoke having outwardly and downwardly diverging arms terminating in inturned fingers, theA ends of which are turned up toiprovide terminal lugs, and a iber strut, the ends of the strut having holes for receiving said terminal lugs and for coacting l0 therewith to prevent rotation of the strut relative to the ngers. i

16. A garment hanger comprising a wire yoke having diverging arms terminating in inturned lingers, a tubular paper strut formed of a strip 65.

of material folded upon itself with portions adjacent its edges in lapping relation and having an internal coating of adhesive material constituting a stiffening means; and means yfor securing the lapping portions together. l y

17. A garment hanger comprising a wire yoke having diverging arms `terminating in inturned fingers, and a tubular paper strut receiving said nngers and having an internal coating of set adhesive material constituting a stiifening means, 75

yoke butt welded at its 10 apex tothe lower end oi said shank and having `downwardly diverging the tube being formed of a strip'folded upon itself 'withportions adjacent its edges in lapping relation and secured together by the adhesive, such portions providing a longitudinal vertically disposed stiffening flange.

18. A garment hanger comprising a wire yoke having downwardly diverging arms terminating in inturned fingers, and a strut formed of apiece of fibrous material folded longitudinally upon itself to provide a tube, the edge portions of the' strip being in lapping relation and adhesively secured together, the adhesive being also applied to the interior surface of the strut and constituting a stiffening means therefor, the ends of the strut receiving the fingers.`

19. A garment hanger comprising a wire yoke having downwardly diverging arms provided with inturned ngers, and a strut receiving its fingers and formed of a piece of brous material folded longitudinally upon itself to provide a tube, the

edge portions of the strip being in lapping relation and secured together.

20. A tubular paper strut for garment hangers formed of a strip of material folded upon itself with portions adjacent its edges in lapping relation and having an internal coating of adhesive material constituting a stiffening means, and

means for securing the lapping portions together.

21. A tubular paper strut for garment hangers having an internal coating of set adhesive material constituting a stiffening means, the tube being .formed of a strip folded upon itself with portions receiving the inturned fingers with the upturned lugs in engagement with the top wall oi' the strut.

23. A garment hanger comprising a wire yoke the arms of 4which terminate in inturned fingers,

the fingers having upwardly projecting lugs, and 5 a tubular fiber strut receiving said inturned fingers, the lugs of which are in internal engagement therewith.

24. A garment hanger comprising a wire yoke having downwardly diverging arms provided with inturned fingers having lateral offsets, and a tubular strut receiving said fingers and of an 'internal diameter substantially greater than the diameter of the wire, the fingers and their offsets being in supporting engagement with the walls of the strut.

25. A garment hanger comprising a yoke provided with a hook at its apex and having downwardly diverging arms terminating in. inturned fingers, the inner ends of which are turned laterally to provide lugs, and a tubular strut receiving the inturned fingers with the lateral lugs in engagement with the wall of the strut.

26. A garment hanger comprising a yoke the arms of which have inturned fingers, the fingers having laterally disposed lugs, and a tubular strut receiving said inturned fingers with the ngers and their lugs in internal engagement therewith Y and acting to prevent relative movement of the strut.

27. A garment hanger comprising a wire yoke having downwardly diverging arms provided with inturned fingers having lateral offsets, and a. tubular strut of an internal diameter substantially greater than the diameter of vthe fingers, 3 

